Q&A: K Color & Round Versus Princess Cut Diamond

Do you charge for advice or only for actually going to select the diamonds in person?

If there’s no charge for advice on the Internet, I have a couple of questions for you and would really appreciate your help.

I’ve been using James Allen to look for diamonds now for a few months and am not sure what is better, Princess or Round cut? My main objective is to find a diamond that really catches the light and has no visible flaws. My husband thinks princess cuts make a nice contrast to the roundness of the ring, but I notice for the carat weight princess cuts are going to have smaller dimensions than rounds. Also, I am confused about color. At jewelry stores I am usually drawn to diamonds with K color, I am not sure if this is b/c I actually like diamonds with a faint yellow color or if what I am seeing is a better cut diamond and so that is why it looks better. I want a lot of sparkle and preferably something bigger if possible. I know you have said to only buy I-H princess cuts. Could you recommend a few princess cuts and a few round cut diamonds, eye-clean, carat weight .9 to 1.5 , with color you deem suitable….I have saved tons of diamonds for comparison, but I what I can’t distinguish is the cut quality….because I realize you cannot just go by Ideal, Premium, or Good on the website and I do not want to buy something that looks good on the web but in reality is not a beautiful diamond once it’s in a ring. There are too many factors related to cut (ie depth, table, and girdle) for me too narrow down a diamond. Our budget is 2,000 to 5,000, best value for the money of course. Thanks so much if you can be of help.

Finally, does Chicago have any kind of a diamond market, and if so would you recommend going to any particular location to look for a well-priced diamond in person there?

Thanks.

Thanks for your very fast response. I really appreciate your help. To narrow parameters I’d say this would probably be best.

Clarity-Any grade, but one you’re sure is not going to have any visible flaws.

Color-J or I, or K if it has some fluorescence. I’m not sure it’s a good idea to buy a diamond that doesn’t look like a diamond, although I do like diamonds with some color. What is your take on K colored stones? I see that they are on the border when it comes to pricing, from J on up you can expect a much higher price tag. I am sure I do not care for a totally colorless stone, but I am worried that some of the jewelers use lighting to make the stones look lighter, so a K that looks nice in the store might be too obviously yellow in normal lighting.

Is a K diamond even worth considering, or should I stay in the I-J range?

To clarify on size and prize and help you out. 2,000 to 4,000, although a little higher might be ok if it’s a lovely stone.

I am thinking 1 to 1.25 carat unless there is something spectacularly well cut between .9 and 1 carat or a really great deal on a bigger stone.

As for the final product, I’m hoping to get something that is a really beautiful cut diamond and a nice size. I do not want to sacrifice brilliance for size, but since James Allen does not do trade ins I would only want something from them if it’s both a nice size and cut. If nothing can be found, then I’d go with a higher clarity, smaller diamond from Lumera with excellent dimensions, as they do do trade-ins after 2 years. I am stuck on what is the right diamond for me at this time, and very much hoping your can help.

If you still need smaller parameters for a search or want me to send some diamond links to you so you can rank them that would be fine, any help would be very much appreciated.

Thanks for your time and assistance

Thanks for your email. The link to the stone you sent was great, it’s a beautiful diamond and I can’t find the flaws, which with S1 usually I can find them. We’re going jewelry shopping one final time to make an absolutely final decision on color and budget and other factors this weekend, which should help narrow the search further.

One question for you: You picked a round cut diamond, do they tend to have more brilliance than a princess cut?

Thanks for your email and sorry I am not writing back faster. This weekend I went to look at some GIA certified diamonds without any interruptions and tried asking some harder questions about the diamond dimensions, raised the budget to $10,000, and also tried looking at the stones out of the bright lights that are ubiquitous at a jewelers. The conclusion: Before I was probably looking at stones that were K colored with better cuts vs. more colorless stones with inferior proportions. The result: K stones appeared more brilliant. However, now I’m certain what I’d ideally like would be a 1.5 carat, I color or better, eye-clean, ideally proportioned round cut diamond. From what I can tell that is not possible under $5,000.

At this point, would you recommend buying something smaller with VS2 clarity or better, ideal proportions, and I color and up from Lumera, with the intention of trading it in some years later, or just sticking with something smaller from James Allen (a company I have confidence in) and accept the fact it is not very large, or just buying nothing at all at this time?

How long has Lumera been in business and how reputable are they? I couldn’t find anything on the web answering these questions.

Also, do diamond prices fluctuate throughout the year? When is the best time to buy? If you could be of any help I’d so much appreciate it.

Thanks for your response. I see what you’re saying about James Allen, those diamonds are beautiful and the flaws hardly visible. They are a better value. Before what I was thinking was that I could trade in a diamond from Lumera, but I see that it’s not really worth it b/c when paying for the higher clarity on a larger stone the price goes up steeply. It would not make sense in the end. James Allen would be a better deal for sure.

However, those stones are just out of reach for now. If buying from James Allen, I should stick to around a carat since the budget had better stay at 2,000 to 4,000. My husband would not appreciate it if I maxed out the credit cards and used my entire cash stash to buy a 9,000 to 10,000 dollar diamond. Could you recommend some stones in this price range?

The other option would be a certified diamond someone is selling locally, it is purportedly E color, I-1 clarity, 1.22 carat, 64.1 depth, and I haven’t heard back from them on the table %. The cut grade and clarity do not sound promising, but they are asking 2500 for the ring. It is just a simply set solitaire with a 2 mm white gold band, which is the type of ring I am looking for. Assuming they could be talked down to 2300 or so, would this be a good buy considering my problem of budget vs. expectations?

Thanks, yes, I am thinking that between the I-1 rating (and at that price it’s probably no where near eye-clean) and the too-deep cut it is probably not worth it.

https://www.jamesallen.com/loose-diamonds-search/diamonds/J-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1294243.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

What do you think of this stone? I am trying to come up with three different stones. I have a brother in Manhattan, at Columbia, that could go and make the final choice. I am thinking J color might not be too obvious on a smaller stone…under 1.25..it also has fluorescence….is that possible?

I am looking for three different stones in the price range that are close but not all too much the same…ie not all three .93 I colored ideal cut stones, he won’t be able to see at all the difference.

I like the stone you sent…would you include that one I mentioned in the final three?

…….

https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/J-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1302839.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

Maybe this one?

https://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/2mm-Knife-Edge-18k-White-Gold-Solitaire-Ring.html

I’m not sure if I’d have James Allen set the stone for me or not, but I am definitely in favor of just a basic setting. I guess it’s what is called a four-prong Tiffany set solitaire?

I see what you’re saying about the last stone, although James Allen labeled it “Ideal” and it’s proportions fall with the 58-62% range, it is not AGS Ideal.

Do you have any other suggestions?

Thanks, a discount would help keep the price a little lower.

I appreciate all your help and just have one more question. The diamond you are recommending has some visible flaws in the bottom left and center area. Will these be noticable to the naked eye?

Ok thanks….will let you know how the stone turns out in person. Thanks again for all your help.

I very much appreciate all your help.